Progressive Demonstration

Duncan Sinclair

Many at the beginning of their study of Christian Science make rapid spiritual progress. They see the truth clearly, the truth of God's allness and the entirely spiritual nature of His universe, including man; and with this spiritual vision, they are able to make many demonstrations over material sense—demonstrations of the healing of disease and of the overcoming of sin, sorrow, lack, and the like. Not infrequently, people are healed in Christian Science of what is regarded as incurable illness, at the very beginning of their study, having vividly perceived the unreality disease through their perception of the allness of God, good. But, too often, the clear, spiritual vision appears to fade, faith in revealed spiritual truth and its power to heal grows dim, with the result that spiritual progress is retarded.

That ought not to be: progress in spiritual understanding and demonstration should be continuous. The genuine student of Christian Science is aware of this; and when he feels that he is not progressing as he should, he examines his thought to find out what is wrong. Never can the Christian Scientist dispense with self-examination, for thereby he ascertains where he stands spiritually—where his affections are placed, to what extent he is realizing the truth of God's allness and omnipotence, how much he is giving presence and power, in belief, to evil. Frequent self-examination, in the light of revealed truth, is necessary; for without it the student may fail to uncover and to overcome the hindrances to his progress spiritually.

Rarely is anything of value achieved without earnest endeavor. This applies to every line of human experience, including spiritual living. There must be diligent striving for spirituality if one would gain it progressively. This necessitates constant affirmation of the truth of the allness of God, Spirit; constant affirmation of His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence; constant affirmation of the fact that God's law—spiritual law—is perpetually operative governing the spiritual universe perfectly. Besides, the earnest desire and diligent striving for spirituality call for the denial of materiality, material sense, and material law, and all the erroneous beliefs connected therewith.

Further, there must be honesty and sincerity of purpose. Honesty is indispensable to spiritual progress and the demonstration of spiritual truth. Dishonesty means failure to utilize spiritual law, and consequent spiritual retrogression. And is not honesty closely akin to truthfulness, uprightness, straightforwardness—indeed, to every dependable spiritual quality? As to sincerity, it is one of the chief adornments of human character. One cannot think of a student who is honest and sincere failing to progress spiritually, that is, towards the goal of demonstration which Christian Science sets him, once he has learned the fundamental spiritual truth which it teaches. Mary Baker Eddy has written on page 21 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striving to enter in. He constantly turns away from material sense, and looks towards the imperishable things of Spirit. If honest, he will be in earnest from the start, and gain a little each day in the right direction, till at last he finishes his course with joy."

As spiritual progress continues, the pleasures and pains of material sense grow less pronounced. This is a great attainment. Yet the Christian Scientist will not rest satisfied until complete victory has been won over material sense—all sensuousness. But then, as Christian Science shows, since material sense is false, it has no real power of resistance to spiritual truth. This is invaluable to know, in our efforts to progress spiritually. Actually, we are not hindered by materiality, since there is no such thing in real being. We come into our own spiritually by affirming the truth about our real spiritual selfhood, its perfection and immortality, as the reflection of God.

Our revered Leader writes (No and Yes, p. 7), "God has appointed for Christian Scientists high tasks, and will not release them from the strict performance of each one of them." Every Christian Scientist takes that statement to heart. Each has proved for himself or herself the healing power of spiritual truth, as revealed by Christian Science, and longs to see the day when all mankind shall have gained an understanding of that truth, for redemption and healing. And so, Christian Scientists consecrate their efforts to spreading abroad the truth through their church activities, their lectures, their authorized literature, and by the healing of the woes of mankind through Christian Science practice.

"Our baptism is a purification from all error," wrote Mrs. Eddy (Science and Health, p. 35). "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," said Christ Jesus (Matthew 5:48). These two passages set before us the ultimate goal of demonstration. Christian Scientists rejoice that in Christian Science they have found the Principle and rules which make certain its attainment.

Duncan Sinclair

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit